PM Matthew Wale condemns China’s ballistic missile test, calling it unacceptable and a threat to Pacific security
Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale has strongly condemned China’s recent ballistic missile test, describing it as “not the act of a friend” and warning that such actions have no place in the Pacific region.
Speaking in Honiara alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Wale said China may be a friend to Solomon Islands, but the missile test was unacceptable.
“China is a good friend of the Solomon Islands, but this is not something a friend does. This is not good in our region,” Wale said.
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Wale said he had already raised the matter directly with the Chinese Ambassador and confirmed that Solomon Islands had also lodged a formal protest note.
“And as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I have registered my strong protest yesterday with the ambassador. Solomon Islands also lodged a protest note,” he said.
Wale stressed that Pacific nations do not want to see any country, whether China, the United States or any other power conducting intercontinental ballistic missile tests in the region.
“We don’t want to see any more countries, China, America, anybody testing intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Pacific Islands region. That’s the bottom line,” he said.
“Be our friend, but don’t threaten us.”
His comments came after China test-fired a nuclear-capable missile from a submarine, with reports indicating it flew over several Pacific countries and landed near Tuvalu’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also described the missile test as destabilising and provocative, saying Australia had raised its concerns directly with China.
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